Godzilla Minus One, a 2023 Japanese kaiju film, is not only reaping a fruitful box-office return in Japan but has additionally garnered a favorable reception from movie critics, who consider the latest installment in the Toho-owned Godzilla franchise one of the best entries in recent times. Filmmaker Gareth Edwards, credited for having helmed the 2014 Godzilla reboot and kickstarting the MonsterVerse, resonates with the critics’ evaluation.
Godzilla Minus One is reimagining and redefining the iconic franchise’s strengths. The 37th iteration—considered a spectacle worth the watch—has offered audiences a premise revolving around post-war Japan and its encounter with the colossal foe. In a recent exchange with Takashi Yamazaki, the filmmaker behind the latest installment, Gareth Edwards discussed why Toho’s 33rd Godzilla film sets an astounding standard for the movie series.
Director Gareth Edwards Was In Awe Of Godzilla Minus One
Concerning the most recent entry, which had its Japanese debut on November 3, Gareth Edwards made some bold claims. The English director and Takashi Yamazaki had a conversation reported by Cinema Today, during which Edwards expressed his thoughts over the latter’s artistic approach to Godzilla Minus One. On an appreciative yet envious note, the Monsters alum claimed the following:
“There were a lot of things that I thought were very new, and I was feeling jealous the whole time I was watching it. This is what a Godzilla movie should be like.”
Though he had tried his hand with a film starring the same monstrous entity in 2014, the celebrated director deemed Yamazaki’s contribution to the Toho-owned series an excellent contender for the title of “best Godzilla movie of all time.” It remains to be seen if this specific notion will be universally echoed.
Nonetheless, critics believe that the venerable brand has succeeded in embracing a money-making blockbuster that aims to breathe fresh life into the series with its compelling narrative.
Godzilla Minus One Has Stunned Film Critics
Positive reviews were received for Yamazaki’s kaiju film, suggesting that the endeavor succeeds in presenting a tale that depicts a massive, chaos-inducing spectacle and the social ramifications birthed by such a phenomenon. On Rotten Tomatoes, Godzilla Minus One currently enjoys a 98% approval rating, with the critics’ consensus highlighting the following:
“With engaging human stories anchoring the action, Godzilla Minus One is one kaiju movie that remains truly compelling between the scenes of mass destruction.”
The audience score boasts the same percentage. It’s a feat that even 2023 Hollywood blockbusters have found difficult to achieve or maintain. It’s no wonder that the installment awed even filmmaker Gareth Edwards, whose Bryan Cranston-starring Godzilla venture amassed a whopping $529 million at the worldwide box office in 2014.
Read also: Gareth Edwards ‘Collapsed’ After Peter Jackson Sent a Godzilla Review Video
As for Godzilla Minus One‘s commercial standing, Variety reported previously that the movie accumulated $20 million since its release in Japan on November 3. The film is slated for screening throughout 1,000 North American theatres starting December 1 and will be available with English subtitles.
Edwards’ admiration for the endeavor demonstrates that classic franchises can endure in the face of consumers’ ever-evolving tastes.
